Powys woman with French bulldog breached restraining order

Poppy French, who had previously been known as Ana Power but legally changed her name from that which appeared on court papers, clutched a French bulldog in a pink harness throughout her trial at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court last week.

She was found guilty of breaching the terms of a restraining order handed down by Harrogate Magistrates’ Court last June in relation to contacting her ex-husband, who has custody of the couple’s children.

French, 41, had previously admitted one charge of harassment and breach of a restraining order against Thomas Jones, but denied a second charge.

After a short trial on Wednesday, March 1, during which she appeared to yawn under questioning from prosecutor Stephen Davies, magistrates returned a guilty verdict on the second offence, telling her they did not find her evidence “credible”.

French was living at Court Fold, Old Radnor, at the time of the offences on August 24 last year.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies said French had begun messaging Mrs Bailey-Jones late at night after seeing her posting pictures of her children on Facebook.

“She told police she hadn’t contacted him at all. She said Roxanne Bailey-Jones had popped up on Facebook ‘posting pictures of my kids, saying they were hers’," Mr Davies said.

“She had told her to stop, saying ‘they’re mine and I don’t consent’. She told police she knows the rules of the restraining order and stated repeatedly she hadn’t contacted Thomas Jones and that she didn’t even have his number.

“She said she had found Mrs Bailey-Jones’ number online and had said for her to pass on the messages to Mr Jones."

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French told police she didn’t know how a call had been made from her phone to Mr Jones.

“She said maybe her partner or children made the call as they play games on her phone,” added Mr Davies.

In victim impact statements from the couple read out by Mr Davies, Mr Jones said: “This is malicious and nasty, I feel like I’m looking over my shoulder all the time. She’s like a Whac-A-Mole.”

Acting for French, who told the court she was now of no fixed abode, Owain Jones said the case hinged on a missed call.

During questioning by Mr Jones, Ms French told the court: “I definitely did not make a call to him (Thomas Jones).

“I had my phone but went to the bathroom. I believe my partner dialled and dropped the call. I had been crying and left the room."

She added: "I don’t want to contact Thomas Jones, I left a bad marriage."

When cross-examined by Mr Davies, who accused her of making up the story, Ms French said: “How dare you. I didn’t make that call, you’re lying.”

After deliberation, magistrates returned a guilty verdict, with chair of the bench Ingrid Gallagher telling French: “We did not find your evidence credible.”

French was fined £80 for each breach, with £300 costs and a £64 surcharge.

A new restraining order was put in place protecting Mrs Bailey-Jones until June 5, 2025; the one relating to her ex-husband remains in place.

As she left the courtroom, French shouted at magistrates: “You don’t know how the real world works."